Around the Horn Nov 21st 2016
VIKINGS SOCCER HUNGRY FOR MORE
The DVC women’s soccer team, seeded first, walloped visiting No. 16 Solano 6-1 in the first round of the NorCal regional playoffs, setting up a rematch with fellow East Bay power Las Positas on Tuesday afternoon in Pleasant Hill. Kickoff is 2 p.m. The first meeting of the year DVC won 3-2.
The eighth-seeded Hawks notched a 4-3 win over Sierra in the first round despite playing 10-vs.-11 for the final two-third of the match after receiving a stunning straight red card.
The Vikings (15-1-6) had no such drama in their opener Solano, getting two goals apiece from top scorers Noelle Lemos and Vanessa Ruvalcaba. Megan Melara had a goal and an assist, and freshman midfielder Chloe Lindemann rounded out the scoring.
Lemos, a former Benicia High scoring machine who redshirted at UC Davis, has a team-high 15 goals. A freshman midfielder out of Pittsburg, Ruvalcaba has 10 goals and five assists and a knack for the spectacular finish.
It’s been a dream season for both DVC, which earned its first Big 8 crown, and Las Positas, which has scored a program record of 77 goals. The Hawks, guided by coach Paul Sapsford, have achieved back-to-back berths in the playoffs for the first time in at least a decade.
The DVC-Las Positas winner will face either Fresno City or San Joaquin Delta in Round 3, needing another win to advance to the State Championship rounds, Dec. 2-4.
The Vikings are riding an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3) under coach Cailin Mullins. The Vikings have notched 12 shutouts and have good balance across the field. Sophomore goalkeeper Katie McLaughlin, backed up by Kiara (Lula) Valdivia, has been excellent overall.
Follow the action live at: http://mixlr.com/vikings-soccer-realtime/
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Vikings made some history with a 67-59 win over American River in the Shasta Invitational Saturday, marking the 600th career win by legendary DVC coach Steve Coccimiglio.
Unfortunately, the Vikings (5-2) fell to Foothill 71-47 in the championship game Sunday. DVC opened the tourney with a 76-59 win over Cabrillo Friday.
The Vikings are off this week before competing in the San Francisco Classic, beginning Dec. 2.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The powerful Vikings (5-1), who have been off since a 66-65 win over Cypress on Nov. 12, will return to action against Yuba in the Contra Costa Tournament on Dec. 1.
CROSS COUNTRY
The Diablo Valley men finished 25th in the CCCAA State Championship Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno, led by Kevin Orellana, who finished 106th in a time of 22 minutes, 04.6 seconds over the 4-mile course.
The DVC women were 21st. Sophomore Ariana Corwin paced the Vikings in 83rd place in the 5k (20:22.9). Freshman Jessica Mendez was 87th in 20:28.0.
FOOTBALL
The Vikings (5-6) finished the season with a hard-fought 20-16 loss to Sacramento City in the State Center Bowl Saturday at Hughes Stadium.
The Vikings surged ahead 16-13 on a 3-yard TD run by Marquis Davenport with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter, but Keylan Mack caught 17-yard TD pass from Justin Yeaton with eight seconds remaining to break the Vikings’ hearts.
On the controversial play preceding the score, Yeaton completed a 9-yard pass to Mack on fourth-and-9 to the DVC 32 yard line, but the Vikings were hit with a personal foul penalty, setting up the TD pass.
Davenport scored both Vikings’ TDs on 3-yard runs, and Manny Lopez had a 19-yard field goal. Jake Villa ran three times for 71 yards, and Dylan Alves had four receptions for 75 yards. Daron Bowles led the defense with eight total tackles.
-- Matt Schwab